STAFF at a career guidance centre are backing Sunderland footballer Niall Quinn's bid to raise money for children's hospitals.

The Learningplace, in Fawcett Street, Sunderland, has raised £428 for the premiership player's fundraising match between the Republic of Ireland and Sunderland, that takes place at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday. Proceeds from the game, which is supported by The Northern Echo, will go to children's hospitals in Sunderland and Dublin.

Last week, the adult career guidance centre held a raffle with prizes donated by staff that included tickets to the charity match and the centre also sent off for dozens of non-attendance tickets to the one-off game.

Thousands of tickets to the match on Tuesday are still available.